In the wake of the devastating wildfires that recently swept through Los Angeles, countless animals were displaced and left without homes. The fires that started on Jan. 7 are 100% contained, but Woods Human Society continues work to provide and facilitate emergency assistance with pet rescue efforts.
Woods has completed multiple transports, transferring adoptable pets, who were available for adoption prior to the disaster, to SLO to make room in those shelters for animals displaced by the fires. The non-profit has transported 36 animals from L.A. County — 23 dogs and 13 cats, 18 of which have been adopted.
“Woods Humane Society is so grateful to have the local support to be able to help L.A. animal shelters during this crisis,” Woods Director of Development, Jamie Relth, told Estero Bay News. “It provides some measure of peace to know that we are doing something that in some way helps the animals and families affected by the fires. Eighteen animals have already found loving homes in San Luis Obispo County, after having waited in LA shelters (prior to the fires) and being uncertain for so long. A number of animals have also been treated for medical issues that we discovered when they arrived, which will make them healthier, more comfortable, and ultimately more successful in finding a loving family of their own.”
Helping out shelters impacted by disasters is not new for Woods. They were there to help with transporting animals following the fires in Maui in 2023 and Hurricane Harvey in Texas in 2017. Help is not just for nationally known disasters; they transport animals from high-risk situations year-round.
“We work with shelter partners around the state and country to take in nearly 1,500 animals per year from shelters that are over capacity and out of options for faultless, adoptable animals,” Relth said.
Adopting, the most direct way to make a difference in the lives of the animals, is a win-win for everyone involved — a pet gets a new family and second chance at life, space is created both locally and at the shelter they came from.
For those who can’t take in an animal there are other ways to support the efforts. Relth says the best way is to donate funds so that Woods can respond without hesitation to whatever the need may be when an emergency arises.
“Joining our Circle of Compassion recurring donation program allows us to plan ahead and to know we have the support we need to care for animals when an emergency happens,” Relth said. “Fostering is also a great option. When we first learned of the fires, we were able to put some of our animals who were awaiting their spay/neuter surgeries into foster so that we had open kennel space to bring in animals from LA shelters without delay.”
For those considering a new furry family member, just in time to find new love Woods is holding a “Bachelor Pet” adoption event through February 16, with reduced adoption fees for adult dogs and cats to just $14 (plus license fees for adult dogs). This special Valentine’s season event brings adoption fees down from the shelter’s typical range of $65 for senior cats to $150 for adult dogs.
Woods Humane Society SLO is located at 875 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo, and is open to the public daily from 12-5 p.m., with adoption hours from 12-4 p.m. For more information about Woods, visit www.WoodsHumane.org or call (805) 543-9316.
